Italian firm Fruitgrowing Equipment and Service took part in the 7th International Strawberry Symposium in Beijing with their own stand. Chief executive officer Mr. Antonio Russo also made a speech to describe the firm's activities."In this occasion, I signed an agreement with the local government in Beijing's Changping district to set up a strawberry research institute in the north of the capital city", Ruffo tells FreshPlaza.
According to the agreement, Ruffo will provide the institute with new varieties as well as advanced cultivation technology. The local government will provide land, labour and all the other facilities.
Chinese strawberry market is huge: just 5 percent of it is equal to Spain's total. China, the world's largest strawberry grower and consumer, has a growing area of 120,000 hectares, more than those of Italy and Spain combined, industry data shows.
Antonio Ruffo declared to the newspaper China Daily: "I have seen a surging middle-class in China, which demands cars, clothes, houses... and many other high quality goods. They will need better fruit too".
At the moment, 70 percent of China's strawberry fields are planted with outdated varieties, vulnerable to diseases and with lower yield and a shorter shelf life compared with the new ones.
Ruffo started testing European varieties two years ago. Chinese institutes and local governments welcomed the new varieties and technologies with open arms.
Above an below: pictures of the agreement signed last February 27th, 2012. Antonio Ruffo (second on the right above; first on the right below) together with Mr. Kezhong Xu (chief of the Centre for Agriculture Services) and the Major of Chanping, Mr. Su Weidong. In the pictures there are also Mr. Su, Mr. Xu e Mr. Wang (chief of the newly created research institute on strawberries).
Amongst the new varieties, some were developed by the Italian New Fruits, and the Spanish Planasa SA Group, one of the largest fruit researchers in Europe. "We are very optimistic about our future business in China", commercial manager at Planasa Ivan Leach said to China Daily.
Further info:Antonio Ruffo
Fruitgrowing Equipment and Service Srl
P.le G. Prosperi
44122 Ferrara - Italy
Phone/fax: +39 (0)532 772241
Mob.: +39 335 5669884
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.zanzifruit.it